Odisha, Patnaik said, has been working in close coordination with the Centre and the governments of the neighbouring states to deal with the problem firmly

The chief minister also urged the Centre for the early release of the pending Rs 227 crore under the Security Related Expenditure Scheme (SRE)

Bhubaneswar: Naxal insurgency is the most critical internal security challenge, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik said on Monday and demanded the waiver of deployment charge of Central forces in the LWE-affected areas. Patnaik also urged the Centre for the early release of the pending amount under the Security Related Expenditure Scheme (SRE).

Speaking at the review meeting on ongoing operations against Naxals in left-wing extremist affected areas under the chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, he also sought better roads, rail, banking and telecommunication facilities in the LWE-hit areas.

"...waive the deployment charge of central armed police forces as ensuring the internal security is a constitutional obligation of the Union Government," Patnaik said at the meeting. A transcript of his speech was released to the media in Bhubaneswar.

Stating that the Naxal issue is the "most critical internal security challenge for the entire nation", Patnaik said, "It needs to be effectively countered by both the Centre and the state governments."

Patnaik said that induction of two additional CAPF battalions in Odisha is imperative to effectively prevent the influx of LWE cadres, according to the press release.

Odisha, he said, has been working in close coordination with the Centre and the governments of the neighbouring states to deal with the problem firmly.

Its plan of action focuses on aggressive intelligence-based operations in the most LWE affected areas by special forces and CAPFs, intensified joint operations in the inter-state border areas, pro-active area domination in moderately and less affected areas and focused developmental initiatives for holistic development of the area, he said.

The chief minister also urged the Centre for the early release of the pending Rs 227 crore under the Security Related Expenditure Scheme (SRE), the release said. He sought the Centre's support in the early installation of mobile towers at 866 locations in the LWE affected areas and a dedicated helicopter for the state to tackle naxals.

He also demanded the completion of railway projects in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur, the districts which are the worst hit by the LWE menace, within 36 months. Banking infrastructure, he said, needs to be set up to ensure financial inclusion in the Maoist hit areas.

Stressing that Odisha is committed to pro-active security and sustained holistic development of the affected areas to contain the problem decisively, he requested the Centre for full support to the state in this regard.

Patnaik said Odisha has been experiencing the scourge of LWE for more than three decades and the well-calibrated security response and targeted developmental and confidence-building initiatives of the state government have gradually brought about a "very significant" improvement in the situation.

Till 15 August 2019, 26 LWE cadres have died in police action, 85 have been arrested and 35 have surrendered, he said adding the most redeeming feature in Odisha has been the dwindling mass support. "As a result, the total strength of the LWE cadres operating in the state has reduced substantially," Patnaik said.

Hundred percent electrification, improved access to health and education facilities have played a major role in containing the LWE problem in Odisha, he added.